The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-19
RIDING TO CERTAIN DEATH
Two Men Killed and Two Fatally In
jured at Argus Deans Peach Orchard.
The Accident Caused BY the Breaking of a
Cable Used in Drawing Car Up and Down
an Inclined Plane of Very Steep Grade.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
JEFFERsoNvILLE. July 18.-One Of the most
horrible accidents ever known in the history of
Clark county occurred Saturday evening at
Argus Deans famous peach orchards. twenty
miles above this city. Louis Littell and Rollo
Baird. the former married man, aged twenty
one years. and the latter boy OF
twelve. were killed instantly. while Richard
Moore and Chauncey Baird. brothers of Rollo.
are supposed to be fatally injured Two years
ago an incline railway seven hundred feet in
length, to be used in conveying peaches down
from the high lands, where tho orchards are
situated. to boats, to be shipped to Cincinnati
and other points. was built AS Mr.. Deans
peach orchard is one of the largest in the United
States, and there being no railroads near, many
thousand bushels Of the fruit taken down
the incline, which has a grade OF 500 feet to the
mile. During tho present season the great fruit
grower has had q force Of between 100 and 200
men. boys and women employed in picking and
packing the fruit preparatory to shipment. Among
the number were the unfortunate victims Of the
accident.
At o'clock Saturday evening Moore stepped
into the car to descend the incline to procure
some groceries that had been put off the Madi-
pa cket, inviting tho two Baird boys and
Littell to accompany him. The quartet started
down, laughing merrilv the little
sped on in the direction of the river, far below,
little thinking that two Of their number were
starting ride to death. They had only pro-
ceeded about fifty feet from the top when two
strands of the cable snapped, causing it to be-
come detached from the wheel which
1t revolves at the top of the in
cline. allowing the car to shoot forward as if
fired from catapult, swapping the cable as eash
ly as it would thread. Realizing the awful
peril they were in the men preferred remaining
in the rather than take the risk OF jumping
and being hurled to death down the steep decliv-
ity. The car, they thought might remain
the track and carry them into the river, where
not passed half way down when one of the
wheels jumped the track. In less than two Sec
onds the track for distance OF ten feet was
torn up, and as the smashed into splinters,
it's load of human freight thrown to the
ground, two of them being killed The elder
Baird, aged about seventeen years, lay fully
twenty-five feet from the track when found,
and had one leg broken He was bruised from
head to foot, and his clothing was covered with
blood. 1t is said he received internal injuries
that will likely cause his death. Moore had
his scalp torn from his forehead and several
ribs broken. Ono of the ribs penetrated clear
through his lungs and will produce death.
The younger Baird q sickening sight to
behold He lay across the track, his body al
most cut in twain. the spinal column being the
only part that held it together. and the entrals
protruding. Littell had his neck, both legs. and
both arms broken. and WAS killed instantly.
Young Baird, strange to relate lived until
o'clock the next morning.
In less than an hour more than five hundred
people were at the scene viewing the remains of
the Littells and helping to convey the wounded
to their homes near by.